(A/n: well, as I warned you last chapter, this is where the betrayal, courage, and true friendship takes place. As you must know, this is what the whole story is leading up to. Right now, I am a little regretful that I have to write this. It's sad. But I still hope you read it. In fact, I'm desperately hoping to get at LEAST 20 reviews for this story. It has been fun to write. lol this sounds like some kind of speech. Anyways I hope it doesn't seem like Dod and Ced have slid ooc.)
Hundreds of grim-faced men lined the ramparts of the palace. Some of these were squires. Some were even older pages. The attacking party from the Copper Isles and Carthak renegades, along with many killer centaurs, hurroks, winged apes, and stormwings made its way towards the palace. It was getting very close. Two squires stood boldly amongst the men. Dodson of Akins and Cedric of Tessol, the most skilled squires at court.
"Well," Dodson drawled, eyes locked on the enemy, "the Council didn't make it."
"They'll be fine," Cedric replied quietly. He had abandoned his lance for a bow and arrows that he wielded with deadly accuracy. Dodson had his sword. Neither they, nor many of the men, wore armor.
"How are you two doing?" A tall, black-haired, dark-eyed boy joined them, eyes lit recklessly. "It's going to be quite a fight."
"We're just fine, Sir Yule," Dodson said with kind mocking-ness. Cedric smiled bravely at their older friend. A stormwing curse split through the air. The men on the ramparts, and those outside the castle walls, rustled and shifted their weapons.
Within minutes stormwings and hurroks crowded the air above their heads. They swooped down and attacked with claws, teeth, and jars of blaze balm. Resolutely Dodson and Cedric fought them off, doing their share of the work. Soon the human soldiers had arrived at the palace. The numbers of Riders and Tortallan soldiers guarding outside the palace were insufficient. Soon, grapple-hooks were being tossed over the wall. Dodson took a peek onto the ground over fifty feet below. Battle was raging. Many were dead.
"This is no siege!" Someone yelled over the din. A strangled cry of agony followed.
On Cedric's left, a grapple anchored in a notch in the wall. The knight stationed there quickly tried to throw it off. A large hurrok with demonic-red eyes and a frothing mouth cut him down.
Moments later enemy soldiers started appearing over the wall. The Tortallans fought them off at first. Soon their numbers became too large. The dead Tortallans had to be tossed over the wall to make room for the reinforcements that waited below in the castle courtyard.
The Royal Squires held their ground and fought off any enemy. Neither had been scathed yet. A yell tore Dodson's gaze from in front of him.
"Hurroks and Centaurs! In the Royal Nursery!" Yule of Leland was out of breath and sweating. His report was aimed at Lord Wyldon, several yards down the wall from Dodson and Cedric.
Wyldon looked undecided for a moment. He reached a decision and tore away from the enemy and ran down the wall, heading to the nursery alone.
Dodson was dazed. He respected Wyldon. Wyldon was Kelly's father. If he owed anything at that moment, it was to Wyldon and the Realm. Assisting the training master would be assisting both.
"I'm going to help Lord Wyldon!" he shouted to Cedric over the roar of battle. Cedric, preoccupied, nodded.
Dodson turned and dashed for the stairs. Before he took two steps, however, a hurrok swooped into the air in front of him and knocked him off the ramparts with a slash of its claws. Dodson caught a fleeting look at the hard courtyard twenty yards below before he was falling.
Cedric saw all of this, almost in slow-motion, and lunged for Dodson. He caught his friend by the sleeve of his jacket.
"It's alright, Dod, I've got you," he gasped, and resettled his grip.
Dodson took a few shuddering breaths before he could speak.
"Can you pull me up?" He looked up at Cedric, blue eyes shining.
Cedric shook his head. "I'm trying. I don't have the strength."
As if to prove the point, Dodson was slowly lowering. Cedric fought to keep a good hold of him. He was sliding on his stomach on the ramparts. Half of him was hanging over the wall, holding Dodson.
Suddenly a cheer went up through the Tortallan men. Many crowded around the wall above the Lesser Gate. Cedric strained to see what the extra commotion was about. Trumpets blared.
"It's the King, Raoul, Gary, Alanna, and the rest!" Cedric informed Dodson through gritted teeth. Dodson smiled weakly. "They fought through the enemy!"
Suddenly a roar of triumph sounded above Cedric's head. Dodson saw the huge, scarred Copper Isles soldier breach the wall and stand over Cedric. The blond boy was helpless, both arms being used to hold Dodson. Dodson watched with horror as the soldier raised a battle axe and let it fall. Cedric cried out, and suddenly Dodson was falling…
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Dodson woke in the hospital. It was crowded was men. He found his vision was blurred and he couldn't move. His bed was next to Cedric's. Their knight masters, Wyldon, and Baird hovered over them. Wyldon's arm was in a sling and a huge cut ran from the corner of his eye to across his temple. Everyone looked somber, anxious, and worried.
With some effort and a grunt of pain Dodson looked over to Cedric's bed. The sheets were stained red. Meekly Cedric opened his eyes, saw Dodson, and attempted a weak smile.
Dodson's vision went dark. He shuddered. Wincing, he turned his head in Cedric's direction and said: "I'll see you…"the words died on his lips. He was gone.
"…In the Realms of the Dead," Cedric finished the sentence. It was his last act. He, too, died.
Raoul stared at them in shock. Alanna dabbed an eye, attempting to muffle her sob. Gary shook slightly. Jon was in a daze, unable to register it.
Oluf, who had been crouching at the door unnoticed, took a breath and stole into the shadows…
*King Jon's speech to the Pages and Squires, that spring.*
"…We Survived the Immortals War, as they're calling it. We survived, but at a price. You know as well as I how many knights were lost, how many crippled. Thanks to Lord Wyldon, you older pages and squires were also able to fight, to defend our people. You did well--but I can see there are faces gone from this room who were present last fall. We shall miss those who are gone…"
